Bag holder and spreader



April 10,1928.

w. P. WAY

BAG HOLDER AND SPREADER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1927 April 10,1928. 1,665,724

w. P. WAY

BAG HOLDER AND SPREADER Filed Feb. 12. 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2 m I w April10, 1928. 1,665,724

W. P. WAY

BAG HOLDER AND srammm Filed Feb. 12. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 M [1122??? I?35 13 Qbtowmg- Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BAG HOLDER AND SPREADER.

Application filed February 12, 1927. Serial No. 167,733.

This invention relates to devices for holding bags in a suspendedposition and with the mouth open to permit the filling thereof, and itsprimary object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device adapted forhome use for holding bags in a convenient position for receiving scrappaper, waste, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivedevice of a collapsible or demountable nature adapted to provide a.convenient means of suspending a bag with its mouth open, ready forfilling, said device being equipped with easily operated, positive meansfor clamping the bag in position.

A still further object is to provide in a device of the class specified,means of a simplecharacter for adjusting the part of the frame fromwhich the bag is to be suspended to the size of the mouth of the bag.

Other objects and advantages of the pres ent invention will more fullyappear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed inthe appended claims.

Bags of all sizes and descriptions are ordinarily employed in smallhomes for the collection of paper scraps, waste materials, and the like;but as a general rule, these bags are placed on the floor of the cellar,or else they are hung onto a nail upon the wall, and in either case theyconstitute constant source of danger from fire: they are apt to createunsanitary conditions especially when gathering dust from the floor, andaltogether they are unsightly objects, out of place in a well orderedhome.

I have therefore devised a simple and convenient appliance in the natureof a frame onto which the edge of the bags mouth may be secured, adaptedto hold the bag in a suspended position. detached from the wall and fromthe floor; thus eliminating at one stroke all objections which apply tothe present method from a sanitary standpoint, materially decreasing thefire risk, and insuring a condition whereby the bag is held wide open atall times. ready to receive waste materials in bulk without anydifliculty.

The device is also provided with means for positively securing the bagsmouths edge to the frame at various points, thus distributing the weightof the bag, said means being preferably of such a nature as toabsolutely prcvent any damage to the bag itself.

In the annexed drawings, I illustrate a few typical embodiments of myinvention,

in perspective of a. device the possible embodiments Fig. 3 is a detailcross sectional view in ele-.

vation of one of the sides of theframe, illustrating the preferred wayof securing the bag onto the frame;

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of a collapsible frame which may be used inconnection with my device;

Fig. 5 is a front view in elevation of the same;

Fig. 6 is a View in perspective of a foldable frame also embodying myinvention;

Fig. 7 is a side view in elevation of a bag holder frame mounted on astand;

Fig. 8 1s a front view in elevation of the same;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 10 is a side view in elevation of a bag holding frame suspendedfrom an arm later ally extending from a foot stand;

lg. 11 is a view in perspective of a foldable frame of a constructionsomewhat different from the one shown in Fig. 6; and Fig. 1:? is a viewin perspective of the same folded up ready for packing.

My invention comprises essentially a relatively light frame along whichthe edge of a bags mouth may be secured, allowing the open bag to hangdown therefrom, and means for holding the frame in position. I

In the preferred form, the means for securing the bag onto the frame arealso an integral part of the device, being permanently attached to saidframe. The device is also preferably provided with means foradjustingthe outline of the portion of the frame onto which the bag is attached,to the sides of the bag, the means provided to this end being eventuallyalso adapted to divide the frame into two portions, each of which beused to hold a separate hag.

may 7 made of a single flat metal strip bent in the desired shape andhaving its two ends joined at 21. Two suspension members 22, 23, alsomade of fiat metal strips, extend upwardly at the rear of the frame andare preferably made to converge 50 that their upper ends are relativelyclose to each other,-being connected and reinforced by a transversalmember 24.

Said member 24 may be provided with an opening 25 by means of which thedevice may be suspended to a wall.

The device is furthermore provided with two side braces 26, 27,extcnding forwardly and downwardly from the upper part of the uprights,connecting the same to the forward portion of the sides of the frameshown at 28, 29, Said braces are preferably made integral withtransversal member 2% merely by bending a piece of strip metal at 30,31.

The upper edge of the bag may be folded over the frame and then clampedin posit on at various point-s by means of clamping members such as 32,provided at various points along the frame. Said clamping members areobtained from a piece of sheet metal bent to form two legs 33, 34, whichmay bep vota-lly attached to the frame at the rear shown at the frontpart of said two legs being joined by a bridge portion 36 and beingprovided with two downward extensions such as 37 adapted to embrace theuper edge of the strip out of which the frame is formed.

By virtue suspended from various po nts edge so that the load is fairlywell all along the periphery of the bag mouth,

In view of the fact that bags varyin of this arrangement the bag is ofits upper distributed to a considerable extent, I also prefer to equipthe frame with a removable transverse frame member such as 38, havingits two ends bent to form clamping members 39, 40, adapted to beinserted over thelongi'tudinal sides of the frame at any desired point.Said transverse member is also provided with clamping devices 33, and isadapted to complete a section of frame delimited by one of the ends ofsaid frame and by: the two portions of the sides intervening betweensaid end the transverse member.

The various parts of, which the frame is composed with the exception ofthe removable transverse member may be permanently connected'together,but inorder to reduce the bulk of the device and in order to arrange itin a manner convenient for packing and shipping, I prefer to connect thevarious parts by means of screws or small bolts such as 41, 42, so thatthe entire structure may be taken apart and compactly arranged in asubstantially flat shallow package, the width and length of whichsubstantially correspond to the width and length. of the frame.

Although the device described is very simple, I have found that theoperation of attaching and detaching a bag from the frame may be carriedout more quickly and conveniently if the clamping members hang free- 1yfrom the frame instead of interfering with the clamping space thereof.

1 have also found that by adopting simple clamping members of the typeresembling the well known clothes pins universally used for hangingclothes on lines, the cost of manufacture may be somewhat reduced.

Such an arrangement of clamping means isvillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3where the frame 43 and the transverse member lat are both provided witha plurality of bifurcated clamping members 45, 46, distributed atvarious points along saidframe and t-IiiIlSTLIS}? member, beingsuspended therefrom by means of chains or flexible suspension means 47,48.

The manner of using this type of clamping members, is clearlyillustrated in Fig. where it is seen that the edge 19 of the is foldedover the top edge Of the frame 43 and is then clamped in position by thetwo legs 51, 52, formed at the lower end of the clamping member by awedge slot 53 of a suitable width. t

In Figs. 4 and 5,1 illustrate the possibility of also making the frameitself of a collapsible nature. The frame is composed of four s des 54,55, 56, 57,connected by hinges 58, 59, 60, 61, at the corners. One ofsaid hinges such as for instance 58 may be a double hinge, and theopposite hinge 61 mayhavea removable pin making it possible to disconnect side 56 from side 57 \Vhen this is done, said sides 56, 57 maybe folded inwardly to abut against sides'5t, 55, respectivelv, and thensaid sides 54, may be spredd apart and turned. over to form a zigzagclosed structure such as fragmentarilv illustrated in dotted lines at62. i

The structure maybe made foldable or collapsible without entailingthenecessity of disassembling its various parts. For instance, in Fig.6, I illustrate a frame 6.3, to which the upright members 64;, 65 at therear are attached by means of hinges 66, 67, permitting said uprights tobe folded inwardly, parallel to the frame. The side braces 68, 69, areattached to the sides of the frame by means of detachable hook and eyeconnections, such as 70, and furthermore they are preferably connectedto the upper transverse member 71, extending between uprights 64, 65, bymeans of pin and slot connections provided by pins 72, 73, laterallyprojecting from the transverse member, slots 7 L, 7 5 provided at theupper end of braces 68, 69, through which said pins are inserted, andwing nuts such as 76, affording lUO lli

means for securing said braces onto said pins.

For packing and shipping purposes, the device is folded relatively flatwithout disassembling it, merely by detaching the lower ends of braces68, 69 from the sides of the frame, then folding the uprights (i l, 65,in wardly, parallel to the frame and then releasing nuts 76 in order toslide braces 68, 69 inwardly, so as to arrange them symmetricallylengthwise of the frame.

The frame may be of the rigid type as shown in Figs. 1 and or else itmay be of the collapsible type as shown. In this *ase also, I prefer toprovide the fran'ie with a transverse removable member 77, adapted to beplaced at any intermediate position between the front and the rear sidesof the frame. This transverse member affords the added advantage whichis illustrated in Fig. 6, of enabling the frame to be used to hold twobags 78, 79, open one in front of the other, as shown.

In this manner, with a single frame, I provide means for suspending twobags with their mouth open ready to receive waste materials so thatdifferent classes of waste may be separately collected in the two bags.

The two bags which can thus be suspended from a single frame, providetherefore a. convenient means for collecting empty cans and metal scrapin one bag and scrap paper and rags in the other bag.

In Figs. 7, 8, and 9, I illustrate a device designed for the samepurpose, comprising a U frame 80, open at the rear end, where its leg orside members 81, 82, are connected to uprights 83, 84, by means of athrough bolt 85, being spaced by atubular member 86, inserted over saidbolt between said two leg members.

The sides of said frame are supported by inclined braces 87, 88,extending downwardly therefrom to the sides of uprights 83, S 1.

and said uprights are furthermore supported and reinforced by additionalbraces 89, 90, extending from point 91 of attachment of braces 87, 88.to point 92 of the base 93, on which the entire structure rests. Theconnection between braces 87, 88, and 89, 00, with uprights 83, 84, isobtained by means of a through bolt 94, as shown.

The fourth side of the frame is constituted by a transverse member 95.which may be removably placed on top of the side members 81, 82,although it is not always necessary to attach the bag all around,especially when only light weight materials such as scrap paper arecollected in the bag. 'In such cases, the removable transverse member ofthe frame may be omitted, the bag being attached only along three sidesof the frame, and the resulting arrangement being suflicient tosatisfactorily answer such light duty requirements.

In the arrangement described, the frame is placed at a sutficientdistance from the base to accommodate the bag as shown in dot-and-dashlines in Fig. 7. The arrangement is particularly suitable for use whereit is not possible or desirable to hang the frame from the wall, and isalso particularly useful in such cases where it would be convenient tomove thebag from place to place in order to collect waste at variouspoints.

The device may obviously acquire other forms. For instance, in Fig. 10,I illustrate a frame 97, which may be round, or square, or rectangular,suspended from an arm 98 laterally extending from a standard or upright99 mounted on a base 100. The fran'ie may be suspended. from arm 98 inany suitable manner, for instance by means of chains 101 a. shown, saidframe being provided like in the previous cases with means for attachingthe bag onto a frame such as clamping pins 102. The bag 103,v is shownin dot-and-dash lines hanging from the frame with its mouth open.

In Figs. 11 and 12, I illustrate another type of collapsible device, theconstruction of which is somewhat different from that illustrated .inFig. (3. In the same 104, designates the frame, 105 the transversemovable frame member, the use of which is optional as stated. Like inthe case of Fig. 6, the frame is provided with two uprights 106, 107, atthe rear which are attached to the frame by means of bolts or screws108. At the top, said uprights are preferably connected by transversemember 109, provided with an opening 110, for a suspending hook orscrew.

The upper end ofsaid uprights is turned over to form coaxial eyeportions 111, 112, and through these is inserted a piece of round metalwire or rod 113, having its enc s bent inwardly and downwardly to formbraces 114-, 115. The outer ends of said braces are turned outwardly atright angle so as to be insertable through holes 116, provided at theforward end of the sides of the frame, as shown. Said two brace members.114, 115, may be inserted in position merely by forcing them inwardly,to permit of their ends being inserted between the sides of the frame incorrespondence of open ings 116, and then releasing the pressure andallowing the outwardly bent ends of said brace members to penetratethrough holes 116, due to the resiliency of the material itself.

The resulting structure is illustrated in Fig. 11, and in Fig. 12; itwill be seen that the brace members may be folded downwardly about theirouter ends inserted in holes 116, as a fulcrum, and the uprights may beturned frontwardly so as to remain horizontally disposed close to theframe, merely by removing belts or screws 108.

.vice thoroughly eflicient This construction has the advantagepreviously pointed out in connection with the device of Fig. 6, ofpermitting packing and shipping of the device in a relatively shallowpackage, the present construction being somewhat less expensive andtherefore preferable to that of Fig. 6, due to the use of the springacting braces made integral with cross member 113.

From the foregoing, it is seen that I produce arelatively simple andinexpensive deand serviceable, affording a convenient means ofcollecting waste matter in a sanitary manner.

The details of construction of the device may vary from those shown anddescribed without departing from the inventive idea, and the drawingsshould be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes onlyand not in a limiting sense; therefore, I reserve myself the right tocarry my invention into practice in all those ways and man ners whichmay enter fairly into the scope of the ,appended claims.

I claim:

1. Adevice of the class described, com prising a substantiallyrectangular bag holding frame having two ends and two opposing sides,and a movable member adapted to bridge the space between said sides atvarious distances from said ends in order to adjust the size of theframe portion delimited thereby.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a substantiallyrectangular bag holding frame having two ends and two opposing sides, amovable member adapted to bridge the space between said sides at variousdistances from said ends in orderto adjust the size of the frame portiondelimited thereby, and means for clamping the edge of the bag at variouspoints along said frame and movable member.

A device of the class described, comprising a substantially rectangularbag holding frame having two ends and two opposing sides, a movablemember adapted to bridge the space between said sides at variousdistances from said ends in order to adjust the size of the bag holdingframe portion delimited thereby, a plurality of bifurcated wedge membersadapted to clamp the edge of a. bag onto said frame and movable member,and flexible means for attaching said wedge members to said frame andmovable member.

4. A device of the class described, com prising a substantiallyrectangular frame, an upright detachably secured to said frame, bracemembers extending forwardly and downwardly from the upper end of saidupright to the sides of said frame, said brace members being pivotallyconnected to said upright and to said frame in order to and orderlyprovide a foldable structure, a movable cross member adapted to bridgethe space between two opposing sides of said frame in order to ad]ustthe bag holding portion of said frame, and wedge members adapted toclamp the edge of a bag onto said frame at various points along theperiphery thereof.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a substantiallyrectangular closed frame having two ends and two opposing sides,provided with a transversal member adapted to bridge the space betweensaid sides at various points and to divide said frame'into two bagholdingsections, means for supporting said frame, and means for clampingthe mouths edges of two bags, one onto each of said sections at variouspoints spaced along said frame and said transversal member.

6. A device of theclass described, comprising a bag holding member madeof flat metallic strip bent to form a substantially rectangular frame, asuspending member therefor, detachably secured to the rear thereof, anda reinforcing member consisting of a length of metallic rod bent to forma cross member pivotally connected to said suspending member, and twobrace members depending therefrom adapted for pivotal connection to thesides of said frame.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a bag holding member madeof fiat metallic strip 'bent to form a substantially rectangular frame,a suspending member therefor, detachably secured to the rear thereof,and a reinforcing member consisting of a length of metallic rod bent toform a cross member pivotally connected to said suspending member, andtwo spring acting brace members depending therefrom, the

outer ends of said brace members being bent outwardly and being adaptedto snap into pivotal connection with the sides of said frame.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a bag holding member madeof flat metallic strip bent to form a substantialiy rectangular frame, asuspending member therefor, detachably secured to the rear thereof, areinforcing member consisting of a length of metallic rod bent to form across member pivotally connected to said suspending member, and twobracev members depending therefrom adapted for pivotal connection to thesides of said frame, a movable cross member adapted to bridge the spacebetween two opposing sides of said frame, and wedge members adapted toclamp the edge of a bag onto said frame and cross member at variouspoints along the periphery thereof.

9. A bag holder and spreader comprising a supporting frame comprisingside, front and rear members, a suspending member attached to the rearframe member, bracing members connected to the suspending memllllmembers secured at their lower ends to the rear frame member, atransverse member 10 secured to the upper ends of said upright members,and side bracing members extending from the upper ends of said uprightmembers and connected to opposite side members of the frame.

WILLIAM P. l/VAY.

